The Nine Realms

The Nine Realms refers to a number of a planes of existence and pocket dimensions tied to Ailangarde. The locations of each of the realms are often depicted in the shape of a tree called Nordrassil.

Background
Before there was soil, sea or wind, there was only the gaping abyss of Endhílynn. The frost of Jökulheim laid as a sheet over creation until it touched the inferno of Hraunaheim, When ice and fire met, both cooled and from the mist, smoke and rain was born Jörumm, as well as the soil he would walk.

Jörumm wandered the cosmos for ages untold, until he found a strange mound. He dug for so long he could no longer see beyond the edge of the hole. At the bottom he found the acorn of an oak tree. He laid the acorn back to rest, and devoted himself to a lifetime of nurturing the little seedling.

When Nordrassil sprouted its first leaves, Jörumm cried with such joy that the basin where the tree stood filled with water, and became the sea, and when the tree grew taller than even the father of giants, he sang a melody of such pride that it would echo until the end of the world, and it became the wind.

From Jörumm's thoughts and dreams came Voðir, from his tears and joy came Faydi, and from his blood came the Drómani.

When he was old and grey, Jörumm laid himself against the world tree with a smile, and made peace with this world. He had lived a good life. A great life. And his legacy would become the home of heroes.

Ailangarde
Home to mortal races such as humans, and a hub for travelers of all the Realms, Ailangarde is the largest of the Nine, as well as the anchor and bridge of the others. It is a realm of diverse wildlife, mountains, rivers and fields.

Angramar
Known as the World Below, Angramar is a realm of caverns and hollows said to be have been carved by the roots of the World Tree. It is home to the Dwarves as well as many horrific monsters who should never see the light of day.

Drómanheim
Also known as the Lost Realm, Drómanheim is the home of the Drómani. It is a dry, mountainous region that has been magically walled off from the rest of the Nine Realms, and at the heart of it is the summit of the tallest mountain in the Nine realms known as the Throat of Prophecy.

Unker-Hel
Or simply Hel, it is the realm of those the dead and those who are not picked for the Halls of Valor. It is a cold and sunless sea said to be deep below the Spine, and ruled by the King of the Damned, who hosts the dead within his great hall.

Thanagarde
The fortress-realm of the Thanir, Thanagarde is home to the gods of the North as well as the Halls of Valor, where every great warrior wishes to go upon their demise. Thanagarde is a realm of lush rolling hills and blue skies above.